Editing Long Drift

{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Whirlwind]]
|next=[[Six Fronts]]
|image=
|conflict=
|date=
|place=
|result=
*[[Eliksni]] society changes from peaceful and gentle "gardeners" to nomadic warriors
*Numerous pirate crews are formed, with such notably Ketchkillers and Skiffblades
*The Fallen reach the Solar System and assail the remnants of [[Humanity]]
|civilian= Potentially billions of Eliksni 
}}

The '''Long Drift''' is a period within [[Eliksni]] history where they journeyed through the vast expanses of space from their homeworld [[Riis]] to the [[Solar System]].<ref name="Grip">'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Salvation's Grip#Lore|Salvation's Grip]]''</ref> 

==History==
The Eliksni were once a peaceful race of gardeners graced by the [[Traveler]]. The [[House of Wolves]] were gentle weavers, while other Houses were builders, caretakers, physicians, negotiators and warriors.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]], PlayStation 4, [https://youtu.be/yvwGdfOlEXQ| Variks Dialogue]''</ref> However this changed with the arrival of the [[Darkness]] which destroyed their society in an event called the [[Whirlwind]].<ref name= "Whirl">'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], PlayStation 4, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/The_Queen#Variks,_The_Loyal|Variks, The Loyal]]''</ref> 

Notable bodies such as the Elders and Skaith perished, while the Eliksni suffered greater casualties when [[Oryx, the Taken King]] challenged the [[House of Stone]] and its [[Kell]], [[Chelchis, Kell of Stone|Chelchis]]. The [[House of Judgement]] who once maintained peace as mediators between the Houses also suffered losses and dwindled in size. The Eliksni formed a pact between themselves where House Judgment shall have no Ketch and live among the other Houses to guide their Kells.<ref name= "Pact">'''Bungie (2015/5/16)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], PlayStation 4, [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/gone-to-ground-8?| Gone to Ground]''</ref>  However this changed when the surviving Eliksni embroiled themselves in a bloody civil war as the Wolves dueled with the [[House of Kings|Kings]] and [[House of Scar|Scar]] fought the [[House of Winter|Winter]] over the ruins of their civilization.

Forced to abandon their homeworld, the noble Kells of the various Houses ordered a mass exodus and searched for salvation by following the Traveler across space in hopes of returning to their former glory.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:The Lawless Frontier#An_Evolution_of_Faith|An Evolution of Faith]]''</ref><ref name="Fallen 4">'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], Playstation 4, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Ghost_Fragment:_Fallen_4|Ghost Fragment: Fallen 4]]''</ref> The Kells instructed their respective [[Prime Servitor]]s to calculate star flight and relayed the information to [[Pilot Servitor]]s to pilot their [[Ketch]]es.

This period of space flight lasted for centuries and the Eliksni raised many generations of younglings as they traveled the dark expanse.<ref name="Flight">'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], PlayStation 4, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Ghost_Fragment:_Fallen_3|Ghost Fragment: Fallen 3]]''</ref> This new generation of Eliksni were deemed unlucky as they never witnessed the glory of [[Riis]] and were brought up on the stories and warsongs that celebrated their lost culture.<ref name="Wild">'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:The Once-Shipstealer#XIII. The Wildcard|XIII. The Wildcard]]''</ref> Their [[Ketch]]es also became sacred homes as they fostered many clans and families who carried remnants of their dying culture such as ceremonial washing bowls, children's musical instruments and ceramic effigies of [[Servitor]]s.<ref name="Kin">'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]], PlayStation 4 [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Call_of_the_Cryptolith#II. RATIONS|II. RATIONS]]''</ref>

As the Eliksni raced across the stars they became increasingly desperate and soon developed a dependence upon machines they created. This deep rooted reliance turned them to developing weapons for fighting, ships for flying and Servitors for surviving. Their cloaking technology was originally the toys of children, but soon developed into a tool of warfare, employed by notable groups such as the [[Silent Fang]]. Servitors processed matter and energy into Ether, a substance once found in abundance on Riis, providing sustenance to the Eliksni. When consumed in higher quality, the Eliksni are filled with strength. 

Their inherent need turned into worship of Servitors and later a new faith emerged among the Eliksni society. The status of [[Archon]]s grew as their roles shifted to the consecration of Servitors and carefully maintaining their plating. The Archons were celebrated as esteemed leaders and looked upon to provide hope to the depressed Eliksni through their words, teachings, and interpretations of their machine gods.

However as the Long Drift persisted, the Kells neglected their old customs and adopted new means of survival. They established a new social hierarchy among the Eliksni and grew stronger by having the largest access to Ether, followed by their [[Baron|nobility]]. Disgraced Eliksni were [[Dreg|docked]] into subservience and Ether rations were reduced among the population as they were starved and malnourished. This strengthened the Eliksni as a whole, as they were able to survive the hard flight through space, however their new faith would start to fracture as some viewed veneration of Servitor as a means of control.

As the Long Drift continued, many Eliksni began abandoning Houses and acting like pirates to survive, with some individuals taking over Ketches of others and incorporating them into their fleets. This earned them the moniker of '''Ketchkillers'''.<ref>https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/ketchkillers-grips</ref>

Eventually, the Fallen reached the [[Sol System]], and found the [[Traveler]] now protected [[Humanity|another species]] instead of having fled like with them. Enraged, they attacked humanity, beginning the multi-century conflict known as the [[Eliksni siege]].

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny]]'' {{Fm}}
**''[[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Destiny 2]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Forsaken]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Beyond Light]]'' {{1stID}}
***''[[Season of Plunder]] {{Mo}}

==References==
<references/> 

[[Category:Fallen]]
[[Category:Events]]